20 Greatest Alternative Albums Of 2016
1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
Prolific singer-songwriter Nick Cave's recording sessions took a turn for the tragic when his 15-year-old son fatally fell to his death in an accidental cliff fall. Cave's sixteenth studio album Skeleton Tree reflects this in the most heart-wrenching and touching way possible.
He goes into himself to deliver a performance that is so much more than just well written music, but rather, a profoundly sad expose on his recent heart-breaking loss. While music is the vehicle he uses, this artistic testament transcends the conventional music format due to its much more important message.
While the whole record is a startlingly effective collage of icy tones and shrill vocals, particular cuts of merit include the machine-like mechanism 'Anthrocene', the delicate, serene floater 'Distant Sky' and one of the best songs you will hear this side of the 21st century – the stark, piano-led masterpiece ‘Girl In Amber.’
It’s an album that will resonate deeply with anyone who’s experienced loss or heartache, and thanks to its skeletal framework, it’s a somber affair that leaves plenty of spaces for the listener to conjure up their own personal grief. Truly gripping stuff.